Economic development, poverty alleviation among China's most impressive achievement in 65 years --(scholars)

As China marks the 65th anniversary of National Day on Wednesday, scholars here hailed China for its rapidly economic growth and poverty alleviation over the past 65 years. "Economic development and poverty reduction are the most impressive achievements of the People's Republic of China under the leadership of the Communist Party of China in the last 65 years, " Chheang Vannarith, a senior researcher of the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, told Xinhua in a recent interview

He said China has moved quickly from a developing country to a middle income country.

"It is predicted that China will become a prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious country by 2050," said Vannarith, who is also a lecturer of Asia Pacific Study ( Studies) at the University of Leeds in Britain.

He said since 1949, China's role on the international stage has been gradually strengthening.

"Now, China is one of the global leaders in tackling global issues and challenges, assisting other countries to develop by way of trade, investment, development aid, promoting the culture of peace and a harmonious world, and building and maintaining world peace and stability," he said.

Commenting on China's contribution to the development of the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vannarith said ASEAN has attracted more attention from all major powers and the global community in the last 20 years thanks to active support from China.

"China has supported ASEAN in many aspects, particularly in regional economic development and integration, and the maintenance of regional peace and stability," he said.

"Without China, ASEAN is less relevant to the outside world. China brings more strategic weight to ASEAN," Vannarith concluded.

Joseph Matthews, head of International Cooperation Department at the Asia Euro University in Phnom Penh, said China's policy remains the key driver for all the success it has achieved over more than six decades.

He said that before the revolution came to power in 1949, China had been dominated by foreign imperialist powers and the economy was near the bottom of the world's development scale.

"Now, we are entering the 21st century and we see China becoming an economic power--it is the second largest economy in the world," he said, stressing that the successful development of China was due to the complete sincerity of the Communist Party of China in the implementation of the country's development policies.

He said China's economy has been developed rapidly over the period, and China's progress has benefited underdeveloped and developing countries around the globe, including ASEAN.

"ASEAN believes that China is a good neighbor, a constructive partner, a good listener, and a non-threatening emerging military power," he said.
Source: Xinhua - globaltimes.cn
1/10/14
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